While Arapahoe Basin open's on Sunday, a handful of snowboarders have already taken to the hill off of Highway 6 just below the Continental Divide. One snowboarder told the Daily he'd been up there each of the last three weekends.

While Arapahoe Basin open's on Sunday, a handful of snowboarders have already taken to the hill off of Highway 6 just below the Continental Divide. One snowboarder told the Daily he'd been up there each of the last three weekends. He said he just knew people would be there getting some early season turns.

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A familiar beeping noise returned to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area Friday as snowcats worked on final preparations for the park’s Sunday opening.

But ski and snowboard season was already underway higher up on Loveland Pass as a handful of snowboarders have been gathering with each snowfall to work on some tricks on features they built or brought with them.

“We’ve been itching for so long,” one of the gathered riders said.

While A-Basin’s lifts start spinning Sunday, Summit County resident Joe Destefano has already been snowboarding up on Loveland Pass for three consecutive weekends.

“That’s why I live in Colorado,” he said.

The handful of avid riders shared a number of reasons for pulling their gear out and catching a little air alongside of Highway 6, close to the Continental Divide.

“It beats playing video games all day,” Destefano said. “Last weekend there was 50 people.”

“It’s just nice to get a head start in our playground,” Colin Rodgers added.

The group didn’t seem to mind that with each ride down the hill they seemed to catch more and more rocks.

“There was more snow the other weekend,” rider Lou Roselle said.

A-Basin will open Sunday. Officials at Loveland Ski Area said they expect to open later in the week.